Berkshire to receive fibre optic broadband upgrade

Around 18,000 homes and businesses in Berkshire will gain fibre optic broadband access as part of a new scheme.

A new deal between the local government and service provider BT will bring fibre optic broadband access to a further 18,000 properties in Berkshire.

The move is part of a nationwide project that has been dubbed Broadband Delivery for the UK (BDUK).

It is estimated that 91 per cent of homes and businesses in the county will have the option of superfast speeds by September 2015.

Six local authorities joined forces to agree the contact with BT. It has been promised that most properties covered by the scheme will gain Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) technology, giving download speeds of up to 80Mbps.

Those in the nine per cent not included will be connected to a regular broadband service that provides speeds of 2Mbps.

BT's Managing Director for Next-Generation Access Bill Murphy welcomed the deal, saying: "It is important to support local economies, as well as helping new development and infrastructure in these communities."